STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- With the Mid-Island City Council seat
becoming available for the first time since 1999, two Democrats are
running for the party nomination for the slot: Mendy Mirocznik and John
Mancuso.

To give voters a closer look at the race in this key
swing district, the Advance has been shadowing the candidates on the
campaign trail. Mirocznik hit the hustings on Wednesday.

Mirocznik,
the married father of five, is the head of the Council of Jewish
Organizations of Staten Island. He is also court attorney to state
Supreme Court Justice Orlando (Lindy) Marrazzo, and a member of
Community Board 2. He has been endorsed by the borough Democratic Party.

The
Advance was on the trail with Mancuso on Tuesday, and had previously
shadowed Republican candidates Lisa Giovinazzo and Steven Matteo.

The primary is Sept. 10.

Follow along in this entry with campaign-trail updates throughout the day.

***

3:35 P.M.: After hitting the campaign trail for seven hours, Mirocznik said he would take a meal break. He then plans to go door to door in the district, if the rain lets up.

"My office is portable," Mirocznik said."My office is the street, talking to people. To get the heart and pulse of a community, you have to be out there. There is no substitute for shoe leather. By being out there, I will find the issues."

Mirocznik said his message to voters is a simple one: "It's about letting people feel that they have a seat at the table."

***

3:20 P.M.: At the Boone Avenue home of retired contractor David Lazar, Mirocznik discussed issues important to the growing Jewish community in the Mid-Island.

Lazar said the community needs more schools and housing, but that city red tape, from the Buildings Department and other agencies, is constantly getting in the way.

One problem is that extended families who want to stay under one roof are being thwarted in their attempts to add additional floors to their homes.

"We know we can't build sideways," Lazar said. "But let us build up."

Lazar said the Department of Sanitation also refuses to pick up small pieces of furniture or home improvement debris, telling homeowners they must dispose of it themselves.

"Every community has needs, all across the district," Mirocznik said. "The City of New York seems to be unfairly harassing homeowners. It's not about proper regulation, it's about confusion and arbitrary decisions. Those are some of the things I will combat."

***

3:15 P.M.: Mirocznik also said that elected officials need to help foster a business-friendly environment in order to create jobs and boost the economy.

"When trivial matters like how crooked a sign is result in thousands of dollars in fines, that's not fair," he said. "That's generating revenue."

***

3:00 P.M.: Mirocznik strictly observes the Jewish Sabbath, but said that that won't get in the way of him carrying out his duties in the case of an emergency.

"I could respond to everything," he said. "I am accessible. I'm always there for the people."

He said, "If an emergency arises, you are supposed to handle the situation. Preservation of life trumps everything. Whatever I need to do, I'll be there. There is no restriction on what i can do."

***

2:10 P.M.: New Springville residents Doris and Ken Habercorn gave Mirocznik a ringing testimonal at their home.

The Habercorns had paid an $800 deposit to a store for an oven and a refrigerator, but the store owner absconded with the money, they said.

"We're seniors," said Mrs. Habercorn. "We're on a limited income."

So it was on to court to try to get their money back.

That's where they ran into Mirocznik, who is court attorney for state Supreme Court Justice Orlando Marrazzo.

"People at the courthouse told us, you want help, go see Mendy," said Ken Habercorn.

They said Mirocznik helped them with the paperwork as they represented themselves in the case, and told them what to expect in the courtroom.

"He put me at ease," said Mrs. Habercorn. "He walked us through everything."

Said Mirocznik, "As a court attorney, it's up to me to put the public at ease, and to guide them. Court can be intimidating."

The Habercorns got a judgment and a lien against the retailer, and came away admiring Mirocznik.

"Mendy is that helping hand," Ken Habercorn said.

"Thank God he's running for City Council," Mrs. Habercorn said.

"It was all in a day's work," said Mirocznik. "You have to put people back into the equation, make the environment warm and friendly."

He said he would take the same approach in the City Council.

"My goal will be to break down the walls so that people can access city services," Mirocznik said.

"He is an advocate for his community," said Israel Miranda, president of the Uniformed EMTs, Paramedics and Inspectors union. "I call him 'the public safety candidate.' We all know that he can better serve the people of Staten Island in the City Council."

Israel said that the Island needs more ambulances and more personnel.

"The people of Staten Island deserve the same resources as everybody else in the city," he said.

Lt. Vincent Variale said Mirocznik understands the importance of city services to Staten Island.

"We have always been short-changed by the city, even when it comes to emergency services," Variale said. "Mendy will fight to make sure that Staten Island receives its fair share."

Said Mitocznik, "These people care about the welfare of Staten Islanders. They need a sufficient amount of ambulances."

***

12:15 P.M.: Before receiving FDNY union endorsements in Sea View, Mirocznik toured vehicles used in catastrophes, including a Major Emergency Response Vehicle and a Medical Evacuation Transportation Unit.

The vehicles can be used to treat or transport victims of large-scale disasters, including explosions or incidents like mass carbon monoxide exposure. They can also be used to check the health of emergency responders at disaster scenes.

"It's very impressive," Mirocznik said. "We always have to pause and acknowledge the great service that FDNY and EMS workers do for us."

He said that 9/11 and Hurricane Sandy "taught us that being prepared is the key to survival."

He said, "My prayer is that we never have to use these vehicles, that they are there for insurance. But realistically speaking, we need to be ready."

***

11:30 A.M.: Mirocznik picked up the endorsement of the New York State Nurses Association.

She said the group's main concern is making sure Staten Islanders have access to quality health care.

"We know Mendy will be a champion on that issue," she said.

She
said that the lack of a city acute care hospital on the Island had put a
strain on local facilities, made worse by the fact that some SIUH
nurses and staffers lost their homes in Hurricane Sandy.

"We know Mendy will fight for us in City Hall," Ms. Kane said.

She said it was the first time the group had made an endorsement in a Council race.

Mirocznik said he would "fight to do whatever it takes" to ensure that Islanders have quality health care.

He
called the lack of a city hospital here "horrendous" and said that
local hospitals needed to have the money and resources to fill the gap.

He also said that borough hospitals need generators and other emergency material in case of another natural disaster like Sandy.

"We have to make sure we survive any calamity," he said.

***

11:00 A.M.: Borough Democratic chairman John Gulino joined Mirocznik at the event with the nurses union.

Gulino
has taken flack for backing Mirocznik over Mancuso even though Mancuso
took one for the team last year in a run against GOP Assemblywoman
Nicole Malliotakis.

"I think Mendy is terrific," Gulino said. "I
think he's a great candidate. The campaign is going fantastically. Mendy
has so many union endorsements. I'm so proud."

Gulino said Mirocznik is the right candidate for the Mid-Island district.

"He's
a homeowner and a family man," he said. "He stands for everything the
community needs. The response he's been getting is very positive."

Party executive director Kevin Elkins joined Gulino at the event.

***

10:30 A.M.: Mirocznik stopped at a favorite campaign spot for office seekers: The ShopRite supermarket on Hylan Boulevard in New Dorp.

"You see a lot of people here," he said. "You get to shake a lot of hands. It's a very popular place."

Mirocznik said that Islanders are slowly becoming aware that an election is coming.

"As campaign season progresses, people are paying more and more attention to the race," he said.

Mirocznik said he feels "very confident" going into the home stretch before the primary.

"I'm
very confident," he said. "It's going well. We are getting the message
out. On the grassroots level, we are dong very well."

***

10:20 A.M.: John Sollazzo, known as 'Mr. Democrat,' is serving as Mirocznik's campaign manager.

He said there are a couple of trade secrets when it comes to passing out literature at shopping centers.

"Always
give them the literature on the way out," he said. "If you give it on
the way in, it's disrespectful to the store owners. People will leave it
in the basket. And if you hand it to them coming out, at least you have
a chance they will have it in their car and bring it home."

He
said people on their way out of supermarkets also tend to be in less of a
hurry and are more ready to possibly engage the candidate.

Sollazzo said he keeps track of how much literature gets handed out.

"That's how you know how well you're doing," he said.

He added that he prefers to give literature directly to people instead of doing "lit drops" different locations.

"I call it hand-to-hand combat," he said.

And at the supermarket, you know you're in your district, he said, as opposed to meeting voters at the ferry terminal.

"You're really in the hub of the district," he said.

***

10:10 A.M.: Sollazzo said he's very happy with the way the campaign is going.

"We have built Mendy into a professional candidate," he said. "He knows the issues. He's become like a son to me."

Sollazzo said the campaign day beings around 5 a.m., with visits to bus stops or other transit hubs.

Mirocznik, he said, is on break from his job in the court system in order to campaign full time.

***

9:40 A.M.: Mirocznik joined attorney and civic activist James Pocchia for a walk through Richmond.

Pocchia ran for the Mid-Island seat in 2009.

"I'm
supporting Mendy," he said. "He is the most qualified candidate. It's
refreshing to see someone come out of the community to run."

He praised Mirocznik for voting on Community Board 2 against a housing development proposed for Richmond Road and Wilder Avenue.

"Mendy came out early against that," he said.

They also talked about the still-unresolved Loop traffic issue.

"That's still out there," Pochia said.

Mirocznik said he would "carefully speak to the community" about the issue, "and make sure their concerns were addressed."

***

9:25 A.M.: Pocchia and Mirocznik spoke with Kerry Meinecke on West Cedarview Avenue.

Pocchia told her that Mirocznik has the backing of the Democratic Party, is a family man with five children, and "a local guy."

"You have five children and no gray hair?" she said. "You can handle stress."

Ms. Meinecke said she always votes in primaries. When asked if Mirocznik had her support, she answered, "I believe he does."

***

9:10 A.M.: Pocchia ran against GOP Councilman James Oddo in 2009.

Any campaign tips to pass along to Mirocznik about running in the district?

"There's
no secret other than working hard and knocking on doors," he said.
"Mendy's doing all that. He's working as hard as anyone I've seen."

As for another run himself this year, Pocchia said that time wasn't right due to family considerations.

"It was just bad timing," he said.

***

8:45 A.M.: Mirocznik called the street his "office."

He started his campaign day greeting commuters at the bus stop at Hylan and Cannon boulevards in New Dorp.

"This
is my actual office," Mirocznik said. "This is where I meet people,
discuss their issues with them. I enjoy hearing their stories."

Mirocznik
said that commuters complained to him about high express bus fares,
which feel like an added tax when taken with other increasing costs and
fees, like water and electric bills.

"They feel the system is rigged against them," Mirocznik said.

He
said he would advocate "at all levels of government" for more service,
even if it means launching a lawsuit to get his voice heard.

He wants to see service cuts restored, as well as increased service and more frequent stops along popular bus lines.

"We have to make the ride as comfortable as possible," he said. "I've ridden these buses. I know the issues."

***

8:30 A.M.: Speaking
with Mirocznik at the bus stop, Oakwood resident Ginzel Leny complained
about cuts to after-school and day-care programs, particularly how they
affect moms like her who work in Manhattan.

She said that those
commuting home sometimes can't get to day care in time to pick up their
children, meaning that they sometimes have the added expense of hiring
someone to do it for them.

"The city is basically cutting everything," she said. "They are killing parents who work in the city."